The Influence of Cultural Intelligence on Immigrant Employees’ Job Satisfaction and Discrimination

Abstract

Immigration has become an increasingly significant global phenomenon, playing an important role in the Portuguese context. In this regard, it is essential to understand how immigrants adapt and integrate into the Portuguese labour market as well as to identify the variables that may positively or negatively influence this process. Problems and obstacles, such as discrimination, are observed for immigrants in the workplace. Discrimination is when people are treated differently because of their group membership. Cultural intelligence is a person's ability to understand, respect, and adapt to different cultures, adjusting to language, values, and behaviours. This competence allows one to recognise cultural diversity and use it strategically to interact effectively in culturally diverse environments (Ang et al., 2007; Takdir et al., 2020). Job satisfaction can be understood as an individual's perception of their professional experience, including team integration, job performance, and overall well-being in the work environment (Bal & Kokalan, 2022; Warr et al., 1979). The main objective of this study is to understand how cultural intelligence influences job satisfaction and discrimination according to immigrant employees' perceptions in the North of Portugal.  A survey was conducted. To assess cultural intelligence, the Cultural Intelligence Scale, developed by Ang et al. (2007), was used. Its objective is to measure an individual's ability to adapt and interact effectively in culturally diverse contexts. The job satisfaction measurement scale was developed by Warr et al. (1979) and consists of 15 items to assess an individual's level of satisfaction with various aspects of their work environment, including their job function, relationships with colleagues and superiors, working conditions, and other factors. Based on the analysis of data collected from a sample of 161 immigrants, the results of simple linear regression indicate that cultural intelligence significantly influences job satisfaction and discrimination. Specifically, there is a positive relationship between cultural intelligence and job satisfaction, and a negative relationship between cultural intelligence and perceived workplace discrimination. Some implications for Management, particularly Human Resources Management, were made and presented.